Boom Lock

ABSTRACT

A work vehicle comprises a frame. At least one ground engaging device is coupled to the frame and configured to support the frame above a surface. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame and configured to move from a lowered position to a raised position. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler. A boom lock is coupled to at least one of the frame and the boom assembly. The boom lock is configured to move from an unlocked position where the boom assembly is movable to a locked position where the boom assembly is locked to the frame in the lowered position.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to work vehicles, such as skidsteers, compact track loaders, and other agricultural and constructionloaders, and more particularly to a boom lock and method for locking aboom assembly for work vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to raise an attachment coupled to a boom of a work vehicle, theboom lift cylinders are commonly used. In order to perform maintenance,it is common to apply a hydraulic cylinder lock to maintain the boom ina raised position.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, a work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehiclecomprises a frame. At least one ground engaging device is coupled to theframe and configured to support the frame above a surface. A boomassembly is coupled to the frame and configured to move from a loweredposition to a raised position. An attachment coupler is coupled to adistal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder coupledto the boom assembly and the attachment coupler. A boom lock is coupledto at least one of the frame and the boom assembly. The boom lock isconfigured to move from an unlocked position where the boom assembly ismovable to a locked position where the boom assembly is locked to theframe in the lowered position.

In another embodiment, a boom lock for a work vehicle is disclosed. Theboom lock comprises a frame. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame andconfigured to move from a lowered position to a raised position. Anattachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly.At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and theattachment coupler. The boom lock comprises a movable shaft coupled toat least one of the boom assembly and the frame. A receiving device iscoupled to at least one of the other of the boom assembly and the frame.The receiving device is configured to receive the movable shaft. Theboom lock is configured to move from an unlocked position where the boomassembly is movable to a locked position where the boom is locked to theframe in the lowered position.

In yet another embodiment, a method for locking a boom assembly of awork vehicle to a frame of the work vehicle is disclosed. The boomassembly is coupled to an attachment coupler that is coupled to anattachment. The method comprises providing a movable shaft coupled to atleast one of the boom assembly and the frame. The method furthercomprises providing a receiving device coupled to at least one of theother of the boom assembly and the frame. The method comprises movingthe movable shaft from an unlocked position to a locked position wherethe receiving device receives the movable shaft. The method furthercomprises creating a load path that passes through the attachment, theattachment coupler, the boom assembly, the movable shaft, the receivingdevice, and the frame.

Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of thedetailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work vehicle with a boom lock.

FIG. 2A is a schematic of a work vehicle control of the work vehicle ofFIG. 1 in a standard configuration.

FIG. 2B is a schematic of a work vehicle control of the work vehicle ofFIG. 1 in an updated configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1 with a boomassembly in a lowered position and a raised position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a work vehicle with a dozer blade.

FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1, showing the boomlock according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1, showing the boomlock according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5C is a bottom view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1, showing the boomlock according to yet another embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a work vehicle with forks.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a work vehicle with a trencher.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the work vehicle of FIG. 1, showing theboom assembly in a dump position.

FIG. 8 is a schematic of the work vehicle with the boom lock.

FIG. 9A is a schematic of an illustrative method for locking a boomassembly of a work vehicle to a frame of the work vehicle.

FIG. 9B is a schematic of an illustrative method for maintaining acutting edge on a cutting plane in both an operating position and a dumpposition of a work vehicle.

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the following drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways. Further embodiments of the inventionmay include any combination of features from one or more dependentclaims, and such features may be incorporated, collectively orseparately, into any independent claim.

As used herein, unless otherwise limited or modified, lists withelements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and thatare also preceded by the phrase “at least one of” or “one or more of”indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially includeindividual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. Forexample, “at least one of A, B, and C” or “one or more of A, B, and C”indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or anycombination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A andC; or A, B, and C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a work vehicle 10 having a frame 15. The work vehicle10 is illustrated as a compact track loader 20. Other types of workvehicles 10 are contemplated by this disclosure including skid steersand other types of agricultural, construction, or forestry loaders, forexample. At least one ground engaging device 25 is coupled to the frame15 and configured to support the frame 15 above a surface 30 and to movethe work vehicle 10 along the surface 30. The illustrated groundengaging device 25 is a pair of tracks 35. Alternatively, the groundengaging device 25 may be wheels (not shown).

An operator's station 40 having a door 45 is coupled to the frame 15. Anoperator interface 50 may be positioned in the operator's station 40 orremote from the work vehicle 10. The operator interface 50 may be adisplay 55 that may comprise an operator input device 60 configured toset or change a work vehicle setting or parameter 65 (FIG. 8) such as agrade command 70 (FIG. 8). For example, the display 55 may be a touchscreen 75. The operator input device 60 may be separate from the display55. For example, the operator input device 60 may be a keypad 80 or asealed switch module (“SSM”) 85.

A work vehicle control 90 may also be positioned in the operator'sstation 40 or remote from the work vehicle 10. With reference to FIGS.2A and 2B, the work vehicle control 90 may include a first joystick 95,a second joystick 100, and any combination of a plurality of switches102 (e.g., rotary wheel) and a plurality of buttons 103 (e.g.,pushbutton) or other control devices (e.g., dials, knobs). For example,the first joystick 95 may have the plurality of buttons 103 and thesecond joystick 100 having a switch 102 and the plurality of buttons103. Other switch 102 and button 103 configurations are contemplated bythis disclosure. The functions of the work vehicle control 90 may bere-assignable from a standard configuration 105 to an updatedconfiguration 110. For example, from a standard configuration 105 like acompact track loader mode 115 to an updated configuration 110 like adozer mode 120 or other mode (e.g., fork mode, trencher mode).

In the standard configuration 105, the updated configuration 110, thecompact track loader mode 115, and the dozer mode 120, the firstjoystick 95 may have the same operation and functions: push the firstjoystick 95 forward for forward 125 movement of the work vehicle 10,push the first joystick 95 rearward for reverse 130 movement of the workvehicle 10, push the first joystick 95 right to turn right 135, and pushthe first joystick 95 left to turn left 140.

In the standard configuration 105 and the compact track loader mode 115,the second joystick 100 may have the same operation and functions: pushthe second joystick 100 forward for boom down 145, push the secondjoystick 100 rearward for boom up 150, push the second joystick 100right for bucket down 155, and push the second joystick 100 left forbucket up 160.

In the updated configuration 110 and the dozer mode 120, the secondjoystick 100 may have the same operation and functions: push the secondjoystick 100 forward for blade down 165, push the second joystick 100rearward for blade up 170, push the second joystick 100 right for bladetilt right 175, push the second joystick 100 left for blade tilt left180, push the switch 102 forward for blade angle right 185, and push theswitch 102 rearward for blade angle left 190.

Referring to FIG. 1, a boom assembly 195 is coupled to the frame 15. Theboom assembly 195 comprises a pair of upper links 200 pivotally coupledto the frame 15. A pair of lower links 205 are pivotally coupled to theframe 15. A pair of boom cylinders 210 are pivotally coupled to theframe 15 with one per side of the work vehicle 10. The boom cylinders210 may be hydraulic actuators 215 or electronic actuators 220. A pairof boom arms 225 are pivotally coupled to the upper links 200 and thelower links 205 and positioned one per side of the work vehicle 10. Thepair of boom arms 225 are pivotally coupled to the boom cylinders 210.With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the boom cylinders 210 are configuredto move the boom assembly 195 from a lowered position 230 to a raisedposition 235. Other boom assembly 195 configurations are contemplated bythis disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a boom position sensor 240 is coupled to at leastone of the frame 15, the boom assembly 195, and the boom cylinder 210.The boom position sensor 240 is configured to transmit a boom positionsignal 245 (FIG. 8) indicative of a position of the boom assembly 195.The boom position sensor 240 may be a rotary sensor, cylinder positionsensor, or other type of sensor.

With reference to FIG. 4, an attachment coupler 250 is coupled to adistal portion 255 of the boom assembly 195. A pair of tilt cylinders260 are coupled to the boom assembly 195 and the attachment coupler 250with one per side of the work vehicle 10. The tilt cylinders 260 may behydraulic actuators 265 or electronic actuators 270. The tilt cylinders260 are configured to move or tilt the attachment coupler 250.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a hydraulic system 275 is fluidly coupled tothe boom cylinders 210 and the tilt cylinders 260. The hydraulic system275 comprises a hydraulic pump 280 and a hydraulic valve 285 (e.g.,electrohydraulic valve) to control hydraulic fluid flow to the boomcylinders 210 and tilt cylinders 260 after receiving input from at leastone of the operator interface 50 and the work vehicle control 90. Withreference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 4, in the updated configuration 110 thefunctions of the first joystick 95, the second joystick 100, theswitches 102, and the buttons 103 may be changed to control differentaspects of the hydraulic system 275. For example, the second joystick100 that controlled the boom cylinders 210 in the forward boom down 145and reverse boom up 150 directions in the compact track loader mode 115may now be changed to control the tilt cylinders 260 in the forwardblade down 165 and reverse blade up 170 directions in the dozer mode120. This disclosure contemplates other aspects of the hydraulic system275 may be controlled by other changes to the first joystick 95, thesecond joystick 100, switches 102, and buttons 103.

With reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, a boom lock 290 may be coupledto at least one of the frame 15 and the boom assembly 195. The boom lock290 is configured to move from an unlocked position 295 where the boomassembly 195 is movable to a locked position 300 where the boom assembly195 is locked to the frame 15 in the lowered position 230 (FIG. 3). Theboom lock 290 may comprise a receiving device 305 coupled to at leastone of the boom assembly 195 and the frame 15. The receiving device 305is configured to receive a movable shaft 310 (e.g., sliding shaft,rotating shaft) coupled to at least one of the other of the boomassembly 195 and the frame 15. In some embodiments, the receiving device305 may be configured to receive a sliding block 315 or a rotating latch320 or wedge 325. The movable shaft 310 may be a hydraulic actuator 330or an electronic actuator 335.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A and 6B, an attachment 340 may becoupled to the attachment coupler 250. The attachment 340 may be abucket 345, a dozer blade 350, forks 355, trencher 360, or otherattachment 340 (e.g., grapple, auger). The attachment 340 may comprise acutting edge 365 (FIG. 1).

With reference to FIG. 4, an attachment position sensor 370 may becoupled to at least one of the boom assembly 195, the attachment coupler250, and the tilt cylinder 260 and configured to transmit an attachmentposition signal 375 (FIG. 8) indicative of a position of the attachmentcoupler 250. The attachment position sensor 370 may be a rotary sensor,cylinder position sensor, or other type of sensor.

An inertial measurement unit (“IMU”) 380 or a slope sensor 385 may becoupled to the attachment 340 and configured to transmit a slope signal390 (FIG. 8) indicative of a slope of the attachment 340 relative to theframe 15 or the surface 30. Slope corresponds with the blade tilt right175 and blade tilt left 180 in the updated configuration 110 (FIG. 2B)and dozer mode 120 (FIG. 2B).

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, an identification device 395 may becoupled to the attachment 340 and configured to transmit an attachmentidentification signal 400 after an activation event 405. Theidentification device 395 may be a beacon assembly 410. The attachmentidentification signal 400 may comprise attachment dimensions 415. Theactivation event 405 may comprise the work vehicle 10 contacting theattachment 340 with a minimum force where the attachment 340 remainsstationary. Alternatively, the activation event 405 may comprise theidentification device 395 receiving an activation signal 420 from anactivation sensor 425 coupled to the work vehicle 10. The operatorinterface 50 or display 55 may be communicatively coupled to theidentification device 395 and configured to display the attachmentidentification signal 400. The operator interface 50, display 55, or theoperator input device 60 may be configured to receive an operator inputindicative of an attachment confirmation 430 and the grade command 70.The operator interface 50 or display 55 may show the attachmentidentification signals 400 of the attachments 340 in order of thestrength of the attachment identification signals 400 starting with thestrongest signal of the various signals coming from a variety ofattachments 340. The operator interface 50 or display 55 may also showthe attachment identification signals 400 of the attachments 340starting with the most recently used or previously used attachments 340.Other attachment identification signal 400 display orders arecontemplated by this disclosure.

A positioning receiver 435 may be coupled to the frame 15 or operator'sstation 40 and configured to receive a geospatial positioning signal 440(“GPS”) (e.g., GNSS, GLONASS) to locate a position of the work vehicle10.

A grade control system 445 may be communicatively coupled to theoperator input device 60 and configured to receive the grade command 70and define a cutting plane 450. The grade control system 445 may be alaser 455 coupled to the frame 15 and configured to receive the gradecommand 70 and project the cutting plane 450 on the surface 30.Alternatively, the grade control system 445 may be an internal on-boardsystem 460 that does not project the cutting plane 450 but iscommunicatively coupled to the operator input device 60 and configuredto receive the grade command 70.

A controller 465 may be coupled to the work vehicle 10. In dozer mode120 (FIG. 2B), the controller 465 may be configured to receive anoperator signal 470 from the operator interface 50, transmit a boomlower signal 475 to the hydraulic system 275 to lower the boom assembly195 to the frame 15, and transmit a boom lock signal 480 to a hydraulicactuator 330 or an electronic actuator 335 of the boom lock 290 to movethe boom lock 290 to the locked position 300 (FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C) afterthe boom assembly 195 is lowered to the frame 15. The controller 465 mayreceive and send signals wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth) via a work vehiclewireless communication device 485 or by way of a communication bus 490.The controller 465 may comprise an electronic data processor 495.

The electronic data processor 495 may be arranged locally as a part ofthe work vehicle 10 or remotely away from the work vehicle 10. Invarious embodiments, the electronic data processor 495 may comprise amicroprocessor, a microcontroller, a central processing unit, aprogrammable logic array, a programmable logic controller, anapplication specific integrated circuit, a logic circuit, an arithmeticlogic unit, or other suitable programmable circuitry that is adapted toperform data processing and/or system control operations. In otherembodiments, the electronic data processor 495 can manage the transferof data to and from a remote processing system via a network andwireless infrastructure. For example, the electronic data processor cancollect and process signal data from the communication bus 490 fortransmission either in a forward or rearward direction (i.e., to or fromthe remote processing system).

A memory device 500 stores information and data for access by theelectronic data processor 495, the communication bus 490, or the vehiclewireless communication device 485. The memory device 500 may compriseelectronic memory, nonvolatile random-access memory, an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or another device for storing andaccessing electronic data on any recordable, rewritable, or readableelectronic, optical, or magnetic storage medium.

For two-dimensional automatic control of the attachment 340, thecontroller 465 may be configured to receive the geospatial positioningsignal 440 from the positioning receiver 435, the boom position signal245, the attachment position signal 375, the operator signal 470 orinput, and reference the memory device 500 and change the work vehiclecontrol 90 between the standard configuration 105 and the updatedconfiguration 110. The controller 465 may be configured to control anelevation of the attachment 340 according to the grade command 70 bycontrolling the hydraulic system 275.

Alternatively, for three-dimensional automatic control of the attachment340, the controller 465 may be configured to receive the geospatialpositioning signal 440 from the positioning receiver 435, the boomposition signal 245, the attachment position signal 375, the slopesignal 390, the attachment identification signal 400, the operatorsignal 470 or input, and change the work vehicle control 90 between thestandard configuration 105 and the updated configuration 110. Thecontroller 465 may be configured to control an elevation and a slope ofthe attachment 340 according to the grade command 70.

The controller 465 may be configured to control the hydraulic system 275to control the elevation and the slope of the attachment 340 accordingto the grade command 70. The controller 465 may be configured to controlthe hydraulic system 275 to maintain the cutting edge 365 on the cuttingplane 450. The controller 465 may be configured to receive the boomposition signal 245, the attachment position signal 375, and the gradecommand 70, and maintain the cutting edge 365 on the cutting plane 450in both an operating position 505 (FIG. 3) and a dump position 510 (FIG.7).

In operation, an operator may enter the operator's station 40 or accessthe work vehicle 10 remotely via the work vehicle wireless communicationdevice 485 or the communication bus 490. The operator may turn on thework vehicle 10 with the operator input device 60 such as the SSM 85.The operator may move the work vehicle 10 towards an attachment 340using the work vehicle control 90. When the work vehicle 10 contacts,but before it moves the attachment 340, the activation event 405 occursand the identification device 395 sends the attachment identificationsignal 400. Alternatively, the activation event 405 may occur when theactivation sensor 425 sends the activation signal 420 to theidentification device 395 causing the identification device 395 to sendthe attachment identification signal 400. The operator interface 50 ordisplay 55 may show the attachment identification signal 400 or, if morethan attachment 340 is present with the identification devices 395activated, the operator interface 50 or display 55 may show theattachment identification signals 400 in order of strength of theattachment identification signals 400 starting with the strongest signalrepresenting the closest attachment 340 to the work vehicle 10.

The operator would position the work vehicle 10 to couple to theattachment 340. After the attachment 340 is coupled to the work vehicle10, the operator interface 50 or display 55 may request the operator toprovide the operator input indicative of the attachment confirmation 430or the grade command 70. The operator interface 50 or display 55 mayshow the attachment dimensions 415 and the type of attachment 340 suchas the bucket 345, dozer blade 350, the forks 355, the trencher 360, orother attachment 340 (e.g., grapple, auger) as a part of the attachmentconfirmation 430. The operator may enter the operator input with thedisplay 55 or the operator input device 60.

If the attachment 340 is a dozer blade 350, the operator may lock theboom assembly 195 to the frame 15 with the boom lock 290. The operatormay activate the boom lock 290 by entering the operator input with theoperator interface 50 or display 55 or the operator input device 60causing the controller 465 to receive the operator signal 470. Uponreceiving the operator signal 470, the controller 465 may transmit theboom lower signal to the hydraulic system 275 to lower the boom assembly195 to the frame 15. The controller 465 may transmit the boom locksignal 480 to the hydraulic actuator 330 or the electronic actuator 335to move the boom lock 290 to the locked position 300. Once the dozerblade 350 is attached to the work vehicle 10 and the boom lock 290 is inthe locked position 300, the operator may provide operator input to theoperator interface 50 or the operator input device 60 to select dozermode 120 thus reconfiguring the work vehicle control 90 to be more likethat of a standard dozer or crawler.

When the dozer blade 350 is coupled to the attachment coupler 250 a loadpath 515 does not pass through the lower links 205 of the boom assembly195. The load path 515 may pass through the dozer blade 350, the boomassembly 295, the boom lock 290, and the frame 15. The tilt cylinders260 are configured to move or tilt the attachment 340 in both theunlocked position 295 and the locked position 300. For example, in thelocked position 300, the tilt cylinders 260 may raise the attachment 340off of the surface 30. The tilt cylinders 260 may move the attachment340 from the operating position 505 to the dump position 510. As theattachment 340 is raised from the operating position 505 to the dumpposition 510, the attachment 340 may be rotated to maintain the cuttingedge 365 on the cutting plane 450. For example, if the attachment 340 isthe bucket 345, the bucket 345 may be configured to dump and spreadcontents or a material in the dump position 510. The standardconfiguration 105 may be for controlling the bucket 345 and the updatedconfiguration 110 may be for controlling the dozer blade 350 or otherattachments 340.

The grade control system 445 may receive the grade command 70 and definethe cutting plane 450. The controller 465 may receive the grade command,the geospatial positioning signal 440, the boom position signal 245, theattachment position signal 375, and the slope signal 390, toautomatically control the elevation and slope of the attachment 340 asthe work vehicle 10 traverses the surface 30.

A method for locking a boom assembly 195 of a work vehicle 10 to a frame15 of the work vehicle 10 is illustrated in FIG. 9A. In Step 520, theboom assembly 195 is coupled to an attachment coupler 250 that iscoupled to an attachment 340. In Step 525, the method further comprisesproviding a movable shaft 310 coupled to at least one of the boomassembly 195 and the frame 15, providing a receiving device 305 coupledto at least one of the other of the boom assembly 195 and the frame 15,moving the movable shaft 310 from an unlocked position 295 to a lockedposition 300 where the receiving device 305 receives the movable shaft310. In Step 530 the method comprises creating a load path 515 thatpasses through the attachment 340, the attachment coupler 250, the boomassembly 195, the movable shaft 310, the receiving device 305, and theframe 15.

In Step 535 the method further comprises providing a controller 465 toreceive an operator signal 470 from an operator interface 50 positionedin an operator's station 40 coupled to the frame 15, transmitting a boomlower signal 475 to a hydraulic system 275 configured to lower the boomassembly 195 to the frame 15, and transmitting a boom lock signal 480 toa hydraulic actuator 330 or an electronic actuator 335 to cause thereceiving device 305 to receive the movable shaft 310.

In Step 540 the method comprises the attachment 340 is a dozer blade 350and the load path 515 passes through the dozer blade 350, the attachmentcoupler 250, the boom assembly 195, the movable shaft 310, the receivingdevice 305, and the frame 15.

In Step 545 the method further comprises tilting the attachment 340 withat least one tilt cylinder 260 coupled to the boom assembly 195 and theattachment coupler 250 to raise the attachment 340 from a surface 30without changing the load path 515.

A method for maintaining a cutting edge 365 on a cutting plane 450 inboth an operating position 505 and a dump position 510 of a work vehicle10 is illustrated in FIG. 9B. In Step 550 the method comprises providinga work vehicle 10 comprising a frame 15, a boom assembly 195 coupled tothe frame 15, an attachment coupler 250 coupled to a distal portion 255of the boom assembly 195, and an attachment 340 coupled to theattachment coupler 250. In Step 555 the method further comprisesreceiving a boom position signal 245 indicative of a position of theboom assembly 195, receiving an attachment position signal 375indicative of a position of the attachment coupler 250, receiving agrade command 70 and defining a cutting plane 450, and maintaining thecutting edge 365 on the cutting plane 450. In Step 560 the methodcomprises maintaining the cutting edge 365 on the cutting plane 450 inthe dump position 510 by rotating the attachment 340.

What is claimed is:
 1. A work vehicle comprising: a frame; at least oneground engaging device coupled to the frame and configured to supportthe frame above a surface; a boom assembly coupled to the frame andconfigured to move from a lowered position to a raised position; anattachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly; atleast one tilt cylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachmentcoupler; and a boom lock coupled to at least one of the frame and theboom assembly, the boom lock configured to move from an unlockedposition where the boom assembly is movable to a locked position wherethe boom assembly is locked to the frame in the lowered position.
 2. Thework vehicle of claim 1, wherein the boom lock comprises a receivingdevice coupled to at least one of the boom assembly and the frame, thereceiving device configured to receive a movable shaft coupled to atleast one of the other of the boom assembly and the frame.
 3. The workvehicle of claim 1, further comprising an operator's station coupled tothe frame, an operator interface positioned in the operator's station,and a controller configured to receive an operator signal from theoperator interface, transmit a boom lower signal to a hydraulic systemconfigured to lower the boom assembly to the frame, and transmit a boomlock signal to an actuator of the boom lock to move the boom lock to thelocked position after the boom assembly is lowered to the frame.
 4. Thework vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an attachment coupled to theattachment coupler, the tilt cylinder configured to tilt the attachmentin the unlocked position and the locked position.
 5. The work vehicle ofclaim 4, wherein the attachment is a dozer blade and a load path doesnot pass through a lower link of the boom assembly with the boom lock inthe locked position.
 6. The work vehicle of claim 4, wherein theattachment is a dozer blade and a load path passes through the boomassembly, the boom lock, and the frame.
 7. The work vehicle of claim 4,wherein the attachment is a bucket.
 8. The work vehicle of claim 4,wherein the attachment is a fork.
 9. The work vehicle of claim 4,wherein in the locked position, the tilt cylinder raises the attachmentoff of the surface.
 10. A boom lock for a work vehicle comprising aframe, a boom assembly coupled to the frame and configured to move froma lowered position to a raised position, an attachment coupler coupledto a distal portion of the boom assembly, and at least one tilt cylindercoupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler, the boom lockcomprising: a movable shaft coupled to at least one of the boom assemblyand the frame; and a receiving device coupled to at least one of theother of the boom assembly and the frame, the receiving deviceconfigured to receive the movable shaft, the boom lock configured tomove from an unlocked position where the boom assembly is movable to alocked position where the boom is locked to the frame in the loweredposition.
 11. The boom lock of claim 10, further comprising a controllerconfigured to receive an operator signal from an operator interface,transmit a boom lower signal to a hydraulic system configured to lowerthe boom assembly to the frame, and transmit a boom lock signal to anactuator of the boom lock to move the boom lock to the locked positionafter the boom assembly is lowered to the frame.
 12. The boom lock ofclaim 10, further comprising a dozer blade coupled to the attachmentcoupler and a load path passes through the dozer blade, the boomassembly, the boom lock, and the frame.
 13. The boom lock of claim 10,wherein in the locked position, the tilt cylinder raises an attachmentcoupled to the attachment coupler off of a surface.
 14. The boom lock ofclaim 13, wherein attachment is a dozer blade and a load path does notpass through a lower link of the boom assembly with the boom lock in thelocked position.
 15. A method for locking a boom assembly of a workvehicle to a frame of the work vehicle, the boom assembly coupled to anattachment coupler that is coupled to an attachment, the methodcomprising: providing a movable shaft coupled to at least one of theboom assembly and the frame; providing a receiving device coupled to atleast one of the other of the boom assembly and the frame; moving themovable shaft from an unlocked position to a locked position where thereceiving device receives the movable shaft; and creating a load paththat passes through the attachment, the attachment coupler, the boomassembly, the movable shaft, the receiving device, and the frame. 16.The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a controller toreceive an operator signal from an operator interface positioned in acab coupled to the frame, transmitting a boom lower signal to ahydraulic system configured to lower the boom assembly to the frame, andtransmitting a boom lock signal to an actuator to cause the receivingdevice to receive the movable shaft.
 17. The method of claim 15, whereinthe attachment is a dozer blade and the load path passes through thedozer blade, the attachment coupler, the boom assembly, the movableshaft, the receiving device, and the frame.
 18. The method of claim 15,further comprising tilting the attachment with at least one tiltcylinder coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler toraise the attachment from a surface without changing the load path. 19.The method of claim 15, wherein the attachment is a bucket.
 20. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the attachment is a trencher.